Accident Summary
A private pilot, who held a 72-hour certification, was conducting a cross-country flight in a single-engine homebuilt airplane. Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes into the 425-nautical mile journey, while cruising at 5,500 feet MSL, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine and subsequently elected to perform a forced landing to a grass field.
During the emergency descent, the pilot observed that both the left and right fuel gauges indicated about one-fourth of a tank of fuel per side. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear sank into soft ground, causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft unassisted.
Preflight and Fueling
Prior to departure, the pilot reported performing a preflight inspection and visually verifying that both fuel tanks were full. Fueling records from the departure airport indicated that the airplane had last been fueled two days earlier, with 30.6 gallons of fuel added. The homebuilt airplane had a total fuel capacity of 38 gallons, providing a cross-country range of approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. The pilot had planned for a flight duration of 2 hours and 29 minutes.
The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1D engine. According to the operator's manual, normal fuel consumption for that engine is 10.5 gallons per hour at 2,450 rpm (75 percent rated power).
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspector reported that both fuel tanks were empty and did not appear to be compromised. Additionally, no fuel stains were observed that would suggest leakage. The right wing sustained structural damage during the accident sequence.